Alex Johnson
@shedworking.bsky.social
Writer of non-fiction books. Latest: When Books Go Bad. Online editor at Fine Books magazine, columnist at the Idler. Coined term "shedworking". Half-decent snooker player. https://thewritinghut.substack.com/
"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatsoever; and this is our testimony to the whole world." Declaration of Friends to Charles II, 1660, better known nowadays as The Quaker Peace Testimony.
November 11, 2025 at 10:45 AM
"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatsoever; and this is our testimony to the whole world." Declaration of Friends to Charles II, 1660, better known nowadays as The Quaker Peace Testimony.
Reposted by Alex Johnson
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
The only Szalay I've read is Turbulence. Not many laughs.
November 11, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The only Szalay I've read is Turbulence. Not many laughs.
Reposted by Alex Johnson
The Idler Christmas Special is out now (making it perhaps the only magazine that comes out 7 times a year) with piece by me on famous shedworkers' New Year's Resolutions, and the enduring appeal of Catalan caganers in festive cribs.
November 7, 2025 at 10:08 AM
The Idler Christmas Special is out now (making it perhaps the only magazine that comes out 7 times a year) with piece by me on famous shedworkers' New Year's Resolutions, and the enduring appeal of Catalan caganers in festive cribs.
Reposted by Alex Johnson
Plug - take a look at my newsletter, Book History Bite - subscribe if you like, etc. Next edition will be out this month, so make sure your inbox is ready :)
bookhistorybite.substack.com
bookhistorybite.substack.com
Book History Bite | Book History Bite by Maria V. | Substack
My name is Maria Vassilopoulos. I work in the book trade and hold a PhD in its cultural history. This newsletter is my way of sharing my work, new archive finds, and reviews of all things bookish. Cli...
bookhistorybite.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Plug - take a look at my newsletter, Book History Bite - subscribe if you like, etc. Next edition will be out this month, so make sure your inbox is ready :)
bookhistorybite.substack.com
bookhistorybite.substack.com
Nice to see my latest When Books Go Bad published by @blpublishing.bsky.social at the front of the newly revamped @waterstones.bsky.social in St Albans.
November 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Nice to see my latest When Books Go Bad published by @blpublishing.bsky.social at the front of the newly revamped @waterstones.bsky.social in St Albans.
Went to the Royal Festival Hall last night to see eldest boy sing in John Adam's Harmonium, but before that James Ehnes was the soloist in the Beethoven Violin Concerto. He was *incredible*, certainly the finest violinist I've ever heard live. If you get the chance to see him, do take it.
November 9, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Went to the Royal Festival Hall last night to see eldest boy sing in John Adam's Harmonium, but before that James Ehnes was the soloist in the Beethoven Violin Concerto. He was *incredible*, certainly the finest violinist I've ever heard live. If you get the chance to see him, do take it.
Reposted by Alex Johnson
The latest @folkloresociety.bsky.social newsletter FLS News is out today, and contains a CFP from me and @magicnotwitches.bsky.social inviting proposals for our new @universitypress.cambridge.org series 'Elements in Folklore':
November 5, 2025 at 11:48 AM
The latest @folkloresociety.bsky.social newsletter FLS News is out today, and contains a CFP from me and @magicnotwitches.bsky.social inviting proposals for our new @universitypress.cambridge.org series 'Elements in Folklore':
Reposted by Alex Johnson
Tell me your well loved book tales! I’m collecting options for our reader comments in the winter issue.
What is a well-worn book in your collection that may not be in the best condition but that you prize, and why?
November 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Tell me your well loved book tales! I’m collecting options for our reader comments in the winter issue.
Reposted by Alex Johnson
Heartbroken to share the news that recruitment to Undergraduate Music courses at the University of Nottingham has been suspended.
Please do contact us on protectuonmusic@gmail.com if you would like to support us.
Please do contact us on protectuonmusic@gmail.com if you would like to support us.
November 6, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Heartbroken to share the news that recruitment to Undergraduate Music courses at the University of Nottingham has been suspended.
Please do contact us on protectuonmusic@gmail.com if you would like to support us.
Please do contact us on protectuonmusic@gmail.com if you would like to support us.
Reposted by Alex Johnson
What is a well-worn book in your collection that may not be in the best condition but that you prize, and why?
November 7, 2025 at 11:29 AM
What is a well-worn book in your collection that may not be in the best condition but that you prize, and why?
The Idler Christmas Special is out now (making it perhaps the only magazine that comes out 7 times a year) with piece by me on famous shedworkers' New Year's Resolutions, and the enduring appeal of Catalan caganers in festive cribs.
November 7, 2025 at 10:08 AM
The Idler Christmas Special is out now (making it perhaps the only magazine that comes out 7 times a year) with piece by me on famous shedworkers' New Year's Resolutions, and the enduring appeal of Catalan caganers in festive cribs.
Reposted by Alex Johnson
Hey if you enjoyed watching big characters getting murdered one at a time, in a big house in the middle of nowhere on #CelebrityTraitors, we have some books you will enjoy.
shop.bl.uk/products/bri...
shop.bl.uk/products/bri...
Crime Classics Subscription – Vintage Mystery Reads
Love classic crime? The Crime Classics subscription delivers hidden gems and vintage mysteries monthly – perfect for fans of Golden Age detective fiction.
shop.bl.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Hey if you enjoyed watching big characters getting murdered one at a time, in a big house in the middle of nowhere on #CelebrityTraitors, we have some books you will enjoy.
shop.bl.uk/products/bri...
shop.bl.uk/products/bri...
Reposted by Alex Johnson
I like my #WilliamMorris notebook but am persistently troubled by the floorplan implied in the logo (on every page). What does William keep at home in the tiny windowless room without a door? Is the large space without an entrance useful / beautiful? This distracts me a lot in meetings.
November 6, 2025 at 8:33 PM
I like my #WilliamMorris notebook but am persistently troubled by the floorplan implied in the logo (on every page). What does William keep at home in the tiny windowless room without a door? Is the large space without an entrance useful / beautiful? This distracts me a lot in meetings.
Proper book cover
Christian Hesse Auktionen (Hamburg), Kataloge für den 22. November online (hier zwecks Illustration: Kästner, Emil und die Detektive, Schätzpreis 3.000 Euro; Nr. 113) hesse-auktionen.de/auktionen/ #Antiquariat
November 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Proper book cover
Reposted by Alex Johnson
Other work by the Ladybird artists
‘November Farm Work’
Farm Crops in Britain - Puffin Picture Book, 1955
Artist: SR Badmin
‘November Farm Work’
Farm Crops in Britain - Puffin Picture Book, 1955
Artist: SR Badmin
November 6, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Other work by the Ladybird artists
‘November Farm Work’
Farm Crops in Britain - Puffin Picture Book, 1955
Artist: SR Badmin
‘November Farm Work’
Farm Crops in Britain - Puffin Picture Book, 1955
Artist: SR Badmin
I donate to this every year, the Book Trust's Christmas appeal to send books for the festive season to children in families where money is tight. Please do take a look. donate.booktrust.org.uk/Xmas3/~my-do...
Donate to BookTrust
Support us by making a donation
donate.booktrust.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 9:24 AM
I donate to this every year, the Book Trust's Christmas appeal to send books for the festive season to children in families where money is tight. Please do take a look. donate.booktrust.org.uk/Xmas3/~my-do...
Reposted by Alex Johnson
Because I am an idiot I decided to photograph all the (visible from the street) Georgian doorways of Liverpool's Rodney Street with a 60 year-old Olympus FT camera. Turns out the half frame format of the camera goes well with the shape of the doors. #believeinfilm #shootfilmbenice
November 5, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Because I am an idiot I decided to photograph all the (visible from the street) Georgian doorways of Liverpool's Rodney Street with a 60 year-old Olympus FT camera. Turns out the half frame format of the camera goes well with the shape of the doors. #believeinfilm #shootfilmbenice
Reposted by Alex Johnson
“A tawny owl is looking down from its high vantage point at the great bonfire”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL Grant Watson
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL Grant Watson
November 5, 2025 at 8:25 PM
“A tawny owl is looking down from its high vantage point at the great bonfire”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL Grant Watson
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL Grant Watson
Irish PLR details are in - the top three books taken out by library users were Shed Manual (published by Haynes), Menus That Made History (published by @hachetteuk.bsky.social), and A Book of Book Lists (published by @blpublishing.bsky.social). Thanks to all and hope you enjoyed them.
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Irish PLR details are in - the top three books taken out by library users were Shed Manual (published by Haynes), Menus That Made History (published by @hachetteuk.bsky.social), and A Book of Book Lists (published by @blpublishing.bsky.social). Thanks to all and hope you enjoyed them.
Some of you here will remember the much-missed @daintyballerina from Twitter who on this day every year would remind us of Guy Fawkes' signatures, before and after he'd been 'interviewed'. I'll be raising a large mug of her favourite brew Lavazza to her memory.
November 5, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Some of you here will remember the much-missed @daintyballerina from Twitter who on this day every year would remind us of Guy Fawkes' signatures, before and after he'd been 'interviewed'. I'll be raising a large mug of her favourite brew Lavazza to her memory.
Reposted by Alex Johnson
And here's the baptism record of 'Guye Fawxe', son to Edward Fawxe. Taken from the parish register of St Michael le Belfrey which is held here at the Borthwick. He was baptised on the 16th April 1570.
Fun fact: the entry below Guy's is a little faded from all the fingers run across it!
Fun fact: the entry below Guy's is a little faded from all the fingers run across it!
November 5, 2025 at 10:10 AM
And here's the baptism record of 'Guye Fawxe', son to Edward Fawxe. Taken from the parish register of St Michael le Belfrey which is held here at the Borthwick. He was baptised on the 16th April 1570.
Fun fact: the entry below Guy's is a little faded from all the fingers run across it!
Fun fact: the entry below Guy's is a little faded from all the fingers run across it!
Reposted by Alex Johnson
Other work of the Ladybird artists
‘Bonfire Night’ (1951)
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
‘Bonfire Night’ (1951)
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
November 5, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Other work of the Ladybird artists
‘Bonfire Night’ (1951)
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
‘Bonfire Night’ (1951)
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
Reposted by Alex Johnson
The modern plastics story develops here, with billiard balls. A $10,000 competition in 1863 ramped up experimentation. These English-made 'Crystalate' (cellulose nitrate) balls, sold by Burroughes & Watts, date from the early interwar period. Fears that they could explode were eventually quashed.
November 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
The modern plastics story develops here, with billiard balls. A $10,000 competition in 1863 ramped up experimentation. These English-made 'Crystalate' (cellulose nitrate) balls, sold by Burroughes & Watts, date from the early interwar period. Fears that they could explode were eventually quashed.
Delighted to see that When Books Go Bad is first up on @foylesforbooks.bsky.social Foyles' roundup for Christmas gift books.
November 4, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Delighted to see that When Books Go Bad is first up on @foylesforbooks.bsky.social Foyles' roundup for Christmas gift books.